Describe your funniest incident on tour?
I’ve been running tours for so long now and have had so many wonderful incidents happen on tour that I could honestly fill a book with it; what I love, the funny things that have happened on various tours and why it is the life I chose and love. Having said that, on a tour just the other day I had two young girls exclaim that they’d seen a gigantic pig, the biggest they’d ever seen. We were driving along when they made this declaration and on closer examination, this pig actually turned out to be a Murray Grey (bull)…so that’s a whole lot of bacon! And that very same day a purple cow was spotted…which turned out to in fact be a horse with a purple rug on!
We see some amazing sights in the Yarra Valley let me tell you… 🙂
Describe your funniest incident on tour?
“Just recently I was driving along the back roads of Yarra Glen with a tour, minding my own business, having just left Sticks Winery. We were on our way to Yileena Park and it was a lovely day and all the passengers were chatting away happily to one another when suddenly… there’s an ear piercing scream from one of the female passengers… followed by “Stop the bus, please, you’ve got to stop the bus.” I had no idea what was happening, but did as requested and no sooner was the vehicle stopped than the lady had opened the door, jumped down and was sprinting back up the road!
I of course gave pursuit, wondering what on earth was happening – we must have looked a right pair! Turns out she’d seen a turtle in the road and wanted to move it to safety so it wouldn’t get hit by the next car! She certainly had my heart beating wildly for a time there – I wasn’t sure what was going on and why we were all running up the road. But I’m glad to report the turtle lived to see another day and was safely placed on the verge and we continued on our merry way to Bob and Di Curtis at Yileena Park for a much needed sip of wine!
What is the best thing about being a tour guide?
Being your own boss I think. I love it. I’m responsible for ensuring my passengers have the best day out and I love a challenge. I know the area, the best wineries, the best places to stop for a photo opportunity, the right places to go on a rainy chilly day, etc. I get a real kick out of giving people a great day out. Plus of course, I have grown to know the people at the wineries, so it’s like visiting friends when you pull in and get a cheery welcome at a cellar door.
If you weren’t a tour guide what would you be?
Do you know what? I’d get my own back on all the shocking drivers I’ve had to avoid in my life as a tour guide. I’d be in the traffic police and I would get an award year on year, for booking the highest number of idiots and suspend their licenses. The roads would be safer, I’d love my job and everyone else on the road would love me for doing what I do.
Favourite winery and why?
For me, a great winery is about more than just their great wines. We live in one of the world’s best wine growing regions, so we know the wines will be great wherever we go. But it’s the hosts who make the experience memorable or ruin it! If you drive into a winery with a great reputation for award winning wines and the cellar door staff are rude and you’re made to feel like a hindrance, it’s a bad experience for all concerned. But when you go to a winery like Yileena Park, and are greeted with open arms by Bob Curtis and his lovely wife Di, you are made to feel special. Bob has this incredible ability to talk to everybody and anybody; he will always find common ground with a visitor and it’s such a talent, he’s a natural genial host.
And so it’s then a bonus that their wines are pretty great too
Favourite winemaker and why?
I’ve got a soft spot for Rob Dolan. His range of wines are incredible and yet he’s really understated. And his Semillon is, in my humble opinion, the best the Yarra Valley has to offer. Being the Botritis Semillon connoisseur that I am.
Favourite place in the Yarra Valley and why?
Place? I can’t narrow it down to just one. My favourite places are each for a different reason:
- HealesvilleSanctuary for its animals,
- De Bortoli for lunch,
- Warramate for the view,
- Domaine Chandon for its gardens,
- Acacia Ridge for the welcome you get from Gavin & Trish (going there is like visiting your favourite GrandMa and Pa)
- and the Chocolaterie for …well let’s state the obvious…its incredible chocolates!
Describe your funniest incident on tour?
“Probably my first tour – I was nervous, understandably, and took a wrong turning and ended up in the burbs of Healesville for about half an hour, chatting away to the passengers as I frantically tried to find a road I recognized. The group didn’t seem to notice and after what felt like an hour of cruising around, I found where I was, and said ‘Right, well that concludes the tour of Healesville, let’s head out to a couple of wineries.”
What is the best thing about being a tour guide?
Being out with new people each time – I find people fascinating, having travelled a fair bit myself, so we end up having interesting conversations about their country as well as Australia. Plus of course I get to tell my own favourite jokes over and over again, to a new appreciative audience every day.
If you weren’t a tour guide what would you be?
I’d be a rock star. I have my own band so I’d probably be rich and famous by now.
Favourite winery and why?
It’s a hard question, but I’d have to say Yileena Park. Di and Bob Curtis are such great hosts and I’ve enjoyed getting to know them over the years. I love to sit down with Bob and the group and have a yarn and a laugh – Bob and I fortunately share the same amazing sense of humour.
Favourite winemaker and why?
We don’t always get to see or know the winemakers as they are often working when we visit. But one that I do see regularly is Graeme Miller (though I’m not suggesting he doesn’t do any work!) and I love having him talk to the group as he’s so involved and passionate. And we sample his Port which should be renamed Fort.
Favourite place in the Yarra Valley and why?
I’ve a few favourite places in the valley and they all involve verandahs. I should write a book about them – ‘Verandahs of the Valley’ or ‘Valley Verandahs I have loved’. Warramate and Riverstone wineries’ verandahs would come joint first in my book.
Describe your funniest incident on tour?
“Well it wasn’t funny for me but my friends still love to tell this tale… When the time came for me to do my first solo tour, I was pretty tense and did a bit of jaw clenching. I was concentrating so hard on driving well, figuring out where the demisters were as the windscreen heated up, trying to control the windscreen wipers all whilst keeping up an easy banter with the group. By the time we’d done a few wineries and stopped for lunch I had been clenching my poor jaw so tightly that it locked and eating lunch was pretty impossible. I was forced to nibble away at the edges of my gorgeous meal thanks to the tiny opening! My clients just thought I was an incredibly dainty eater”
What is the best thing about being a tour guide?
You’ve got to love people to do this job, and I do. I find different nationalities and cultures fascinating and love to help the group get to know one another and mesh as they relax and enjoy themselves. Great friendships are formed in group situations and I love bringing people together.
If you weren’t a tour guide what would you be?
If I didn’t need to earn money (I’m just putting it out there to the universe) I would be a perpetual traveller. This world of ours is vast and I’ve explored so little of it – I suppose that is why I love guiding, because I’m helping other people to explore our little patch of planet, whilst I get to hear about their corner of the globe.
Favourite winery and why?
St Huberts would have to be mine. Every time I arrive, we are made to feel so welcome and I love their staff’s friendly take on life. They are also really well informed about their wines, so our group learn at the same time as tasting great wines.
Favourite winemaker and why?
Of all the winemakers Graeme Miller is a standout for me. He is so passionate about his wines as he’s talking about them, and he brings the whole process alive for the group. All winemakers are hard working because it’s a very laborious job, but he is particularly so, and the end result is tremendous wines. I also love his dog!
Favourite place in the Yarra Valley and why?
The National Trust property Gulf Station is sadly only open a few times a year and is one of my favourite places to take groups and friends. It’s a great combination of history, natural beauty and a connection to my childhood which makes it special to me.
Describe your funniest incident on tour?
“Funny incidents happen all the time, which makes for a fun job, but one of my favourites would probably be at the end of a wonderful day’s touring with a mixed group, where a few wines had definitely been sampled, one of the lads on the bus treated us to his version of You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling. Everyone entered into the spirit of it and joined in and we had a fabulous sing-a-long.”
What is the best thing about being a tour guide?
When you’re naturally inquisitive (no, it’s not the same as being nosey!) like me, it is fascinating to meet people from all walks of life and find out about their world, their point of view, their culture, jobs, families; there is always something new to learn. And I love observing people, the way they interact and the dynamics in a group: it’s intriguing.
If you weren’t a tour guide what would you be?
That’s like the billion dollar question isn’t it? I can think of lots of things I could have done and they would all have involved running my own business. I’m quite self-motivated, I guess that’s why tour guiding appeals, because each time we go out, it’s up to me to decide where we’re off to and to make it all happen.
Favourite winery and why?
Another hard question – when they are all sooooo good and yet so different. OK, if I had to pick one, I’d have to say Sticks. Because the views are great, the staff are great, the atmosphere is (you’re getting the hang of this) great, and the wine is… well what do you think? That’s right, it’s bloody great.
Favourite winemaker and why?
Kate Goodman gets my vote. Her wine is sensational and I love that she is a woman out there excelling in her field.
Favourite place in the Yarra Valley and why?
I moved out to the Yarra Valley from the city 13 years ago and I moved to Healesville. And over the years I’ve watched it change and new businesses set up, but I think the arrival of Innocent Bystander marked a turning point for the town. It was like a breath of fresh air for me. I find the space really relaxing, and it has set a very high standard for other businesses to measure themselves against, and whilst it isn’t the cheapest place to eat in town(!), you are guaranteed good food consistently.